Merck, Depomed extend diabetes drug license agreement

NEWARK, Calif. — Drug maker Depomed has expanded the geographic scope of a license agreement it has with Merck for diabetes drugs, the company said.

The licensing agreement, which the two companies entered in July 2009, gives Merck a non-exclusive license and other rights to certain Depomed patents for extended-release metformin, while Depomed will receive "modest" royalties on net product sales of the drug Janumet XR (sitagliptin; metformin hydrochloride) in countries in which the licensed patents cover the product.

The territory covered by the license agreement is now worldwide, Depomed said.

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